In the world of reptile keeping, one of the areas where there's the most choice is in the substrate.

There are really no hard and fast rules in selecting reptile bedding and it can really be a matter of personal preference.

For rainforest reptiles, it's usually preferable to use moist woody bedding that encourages humidity such as an Orchid Bark.

For desert reptiles, some people prefer natural desert sand while others like brightly coloured calcium sand. You don't have to use sand though and can opt for aspen bedding or even one of the more unusual substrates like a maize corn substrate or a walnut bedding.

Each substrate has its own benefits, some are easier to clean, some more fragrant and others more absorbent.

There are also more specialised substrates that encourage burrowing like clay substrate or incubation like vermiculite.